Developing tray



Patented Mar. 12, 1940 PATENT OFFICE DEVELOPING TRAY Hinsdale Smith, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Hinsdale Smith, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application July 20, 1938, Serial No. 220,272

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a developing tray for sensitized material or the like such as films or paper.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device whereby a relatively small quantity of developer maybe used to develop a sheet. In this way, successive sheet-s may be developed in fresh developer at the minimum of cost and not only can results be duplicated but also the developing` operation is facilitated. By using similar quantities of developing liquid, and all other factors being equal, it is therefore possible to successfully produce the desired work and produce similar` results.

When developing paper or the like in trays of the ordinary type, the developing liquid deteriorates noticeably through use on successive sheets. Even after developing only one sheet, the developing liquid is not in the same condition for the second print and the deterioration advances progressively and more rapidly by continued use all to the end that a `generally un satisfactory condition exists in respect to the results obtained and the operation of the Various other advantages and objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel tray of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional View of the tray of Fig. l at one end thereof; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are small scale side elevational views showing the device in different operative positions.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention now will be more fully described.

The tray of the invention indicated by 2 consists generally of a bottom wall 4 and side walls 6 and 8, with the bottom :l .generally curved from end to end. The ends are turned upwardly to provide stops, such as shown at l0, and end or handle portions such as I2.

The tray may be made of different materials. Preferably, however, it is made of a metal which Will not be injuriously aiected by chemical reactions of the materials therein.

The bottom and side walls may be soldered together or they may be joined together in other Ways so that a tightly sealed container is provided. Thus none of the chemicals are allowed to leak out and stain tables or the like.

The bottom wall 4, as has already been stated. is curved generally from end to end. In Figs. 3

and 4, the tray is shown in different positions upon a surface S. Being curved, the tray is adapted for a rolling motion as distinguished from a pivotal action and a swinging motion.

That is to say, the tray may be rolled from end to end from the position observed in Fig. 3 to the position observed in Fig. 4, or further in each direction, and back again to the former and the motion is smooth and even. Thus it is possible to achieve more satisfactory operation and greater efficiency in results as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The end portions l2 of the tray are formed as shown in Fig. 2 with the bottom wall curving upwardly and outwardly so that relatively narrow semi-circular parts are provided. These are adapted to be manually engaged by the user for rolling the tray back and forth upon its bottom.

What I call stops, one of which is shown and indicated by l0, are intermediate the handle portions I2 and the bottom wall t. The tray is purposely of such size relative to the sheet l" to be processed that the ends of the print er Sheet being developed will liel against the stops so that in the rolling motion, the print lI1 does not shift longitudinally relative to the tray.

A removable stopper ld may plug up a. hole provided in one end wall so that liquid contained in the tray can be quickly and easily discharged therefrom. That is, the end portions being formed as shown, the fluid may flow out the opening with the curved end part acting as a funnel so as to avoid spilling,

By employing a relatively small amount of ydeveloper and by rolling the tray, the developer is caused to traverse the sheet F from end to end. By an even rolling motion, the sensitized surface is subjected uniformly to the action oi' the developer although a small amount is employed.

There being a rolled or concavely curved bottom surface, the sheet F after it has been wetted either with water or the developer is held to the bottom by capillary attraction. That is to say, it being possible, by means of this invention to use a small quantity of liquid which has a greater specific gravity than the paper, the developer cannot get under the paper to raise it as the immersed portion of the curved sheet is longer than the surface of the liquid wherefore the ends of the paper would have to be pushed further apart to allow the paper to rise.

In other Words, the lighter specic gravity of the small amount of paper immersed is not suicient to overcome the capillary attraction of the portions of paper which are not immersed. Thus the sheet adheres to the bottom of the tray in such a way that developer does not flow thereunder, but flows across its upper or emulsion side where it is needed, as the tray is manipulated.

To put it still another way, the tray is so formed that the wet sheet is stopped against expansion. Consequently, it is more or less sealed in place and cannot arch upwardly to allow developer to flow underneath, thus avoiding the use of a greater amount of developer as would be necessary were some to go beneath the sheet where, of course, it is not needed.

The end portions I2 of the tray are more or less semi-circu1ar for several reasons. The inwardly extending parts prevent developer from being splashed out when the tray is rolled. Not only, therefore, is it possible to prevent other articles from being soiled or stained by the developer an objectionable feature inherent with ordinary developing trays when rolledbut also it is possible for the user to roll the tray without danger of any objectionable contact with the developer and consequent staining of the hands.

As a further feature, the handle portions are so constructed that they are above the plane of the bottom wall. Thus, they may be gripped and the tray rolled on a support without danger of the hands contacting the support and thereby causing unevenness in rolling or injury to the knuckles or fingers.

Furthermore this feature permits the tray to be placed in a larger receptacle containing water, for cooling or warming the developer, and rolled without wetting the hands.

The tray differs from all others in that it is intended to be used with such a small portion of developer that the print will not float, but instead the sheet adheres to the bottom of the tray so that the liquid does not flow under the print or sheet but thereover.

As stated, the end edges of the sheet engage the stops as shown so that the sheet substantially conforms to the bottom wall and in this way the developer is directed over the top of the sheet, rather than under it.

While the invention has been described in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto .since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rockable device for developing flexible sensitized sheet material comprising in combina tion, a tray including side walls and a bottom wall having an intermediate portion and opposite end portions, said intermediate portion curving upwardly in opposite directions from the central part thereof and being adapted to facilitate rocking of said tray and to support a sheet in curving relation, said opposite end portions curving upwardly from the ends of said intermediate portion to provide stops for opposite ends of a sheet supported by said intermediate portion and holding asheet against movements relative thereto when said tray is rocked and said opposite end portions curving relatively upwardly and outwardly and vthen upwardly and inwardly and terminating above said stops providing transverse outer hand engaging portions at opposite ends of said tray beyond opposite ends of said intermediate portion and inner recesses above said stops opposite to one another adapted to catch liquid as said tray is rocked.

2. A rockable device for developing flexible sensitized sheet material comprising in combination, a tray including side walls and a bottom wall having an intermediate portion and opposite end portions, said intermediate portion curving upwardly in opposite directions from the central part thereof and being adapted to facilitate rocking of said tray and to support a sheet in curving relation, said opposite end portions curving upwardly from the ends of said intermediate portion to provide stops for opposite ends of a sheet supported by said intermediate portion and holding a sheet against movements relative thereto when said tray is rocked and said opposite end portions curving relatively upwardly and out- Wardly and then upwardly and inwardly and terminating above said stops providing transverse outer hand engaging portions at opposite ends of said tray beyond opposite ends of said intermediate portion and inner recesses above said stops opposite to one another adapted to catch liquid as said tray is rocked, and one of said side Walls being provided with an outlet leading into one of said recesses.

HINSDALE SMITH. 

